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H.R. 261

U.S. House•In Senate Committee

Summary

H.R. 261, the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025, was introduced in the House on Jan 9, 2025 by Rep. Earl Carter (R) with 7 co-sponsors. It was referred to Commerce, Science, And Transportation, and last saw action on Feb 12, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Record

Text

H.R. 261 has 7 co-sponsors, 2 roll calls and 1 amendment.

hb261/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 261 EH: Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 IB
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session
 H. R. 261
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting, or requiring any permit or other authorization for, the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have been authorized by a Federal or State agency.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025  .
2.
Prohibition on prohibiting, or requiring permits or other authorizations for, undersea fiber optic cables authorized by a Federal or State agency
The National Marine Sanctuaries Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 310 the following:
310A.
Prohibition on prohibiting, or requiring permits or other authorizations for, undersea fiber optic cables authorized by a Federal or State agency
(a)
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary may not prohibit, or require any permit, including any special use permit, or other authorization for, the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a Federal or State agency, and is in effect, authorizing such installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery.
(b)
Interagency cooperation
Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering existing requirements regarding interagency cooperation under section 304(d) in any Federal agency action described in that section and involving the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.
 .
3.
Removing restrictions on activities covered by sanctuary special use permits
Section 310(c) of National Marine Sanctuaries Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1441(c) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by adding  and  at the end;
(2)
by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); and
(3)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2).
     Passed the House of Representatives February 11, 2026.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-01-09
  2. Passed House2026-02-11
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Jan 9, 2025

hb261/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (01/09/2025)

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from enforcing certain permit requirements for activities related to undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries.

Specifically, Commerce may not prohibit or require an authorization for any covered activities related to undersea fiber optic cables if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a state or federal agency to authorize the covered activity. Covered activities are the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.

The bill also authorizes Commerce to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation regarding federal agency actions that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure a resource in a national marine sanctuary and involve covered activities.

Sponsors

Rep. Earl Carter (R) sponsors H.R. 261, and 7 members have co-sponsored it, 5 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 261 went before 3 committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Natural Resources and Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Referred To · Feb 12, 2026 · 458 Bills
Natural Resources
Natural Resources
Reported By · Jul 2, 2025 · 395 Bills
Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
Hearings By (subcommittee) · Jan 23, 2025 · 24 Bills

Reports

1 committee report has been filed on H.R. 261, the latest H. Rept. 119-181.

Actions

H.R. 261 has taken 25 actions since Jan 9, 2025, the latest on Feb 12, 2026.

ChamberAction
Feb 12, 2026
Senate
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Feb 11, 202610:46
House
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1057 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261 and H.R. 3617. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617, and one motion to commit S. 1383.
Feb 11, 202616:08
House
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1057. (consideration: CR H2161-2166)
Feb 11, 202616:08
House
Rule provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261 and H.R. 3617. The resolution provides for consideration of S. 1383, H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 2189, H.R. 261, and H.R. 3617, and one motion to commit S. 1383.
Feb 11, 202616:09
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 261.

Votes

H.R. 261 went to 2 roll calls in the House, the latest on Feb 11, 2026 at 218–212.

ChamberQuestion
Yea
Nay
Feb 11, 2026
House
On Passage
218
212
Feb 11, 2026
House
On Motion to Recommit
214
216

Amendments

1 amendment has been offered to H.R. 261, the latest acted on Feb 11, 2026.

3 bills are related to H.R. 261.

HRES 1042Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.Feb 10, 2026 · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · Related billHRES 1057Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1383) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.Feb 11, 2026 · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · Related billS 2873Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025Sep 18, 2025 · Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportati… · Identical bill

Titles

H.R. 261 goes by 8 titles, 4 of them short titles.

  • Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 — Display Title
  • To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting, or requiring any permit or other authorization for, the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have been authorized by a Federal or State agency. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting, or requiring any permit or other authorization for, the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have been authorized by a Federal or State agency — Official Titles as Amended by House
  • Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Reported to House
  • Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 261, the latest on Feb 6, 2026.

Lobbying

7 clients hired 7 firms and 148 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 261 in 21 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Telecommunications, Defense, Immigration, Science/Technology, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Computer Industry, Copyright/Patent/Trademark, Education.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
MICROSOFT CORPORATION—District of Columbia15—
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.—District of Columbia14—
PC LANDING CORP.Telecommunications, TechnologyCalifornia13$140K
EARTHJUSTICE ACTIONnonprofit advocacy organizationDistrict of Columbia13—
CLOUDFACTORS LLC—Missouri12—
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES—District of Columbia12—
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA—Texas12—

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
MICROSOFT CORPORATION15—
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.14—
EARTHJUSTICE ACTION13—
WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP13$140K
CLOUDFACTORS LLC12—
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES12—
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA12—

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 148.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
ALLYSON KNOX115
ANAIS CARMONA115
DANIEL LERNER115
DANYELLE SOLOMON115
FRANK CAVALIERE115
FRED HUMPHRIES115
JAMES FARRELL115
JONATHAN SCHWANTES115
PAULA BOYD115
PAUL CARON115
ROSEMARIE LAUGHLIN115
TOM ROESSER115
TYLER GRASSMEYER115
ABELARDO TORRES114
ANDREA PORWOLL114
ASHLEY GUM114
BRADLEY WATTS114
BRINCE MANNING114
BROOKE MILLER114
CASSIA CARVALHO114

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.2025 second_quarter$19.3M2nd Quarter - Report
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.2025 first_quarter$19.3M1st Quarter - Report
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.2025 fourth_quarter$18M4th Quarter - Report
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE U.S.A.2025 third_quarter$13.7M3rd Quarter - Report
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIESMETA PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES2026 first_quarter$7.1M1st Quarter - Report
META PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIESMETA PLATFORMS, INC. AND VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES2026 second_quarter$6M2nd Quarter - Report
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONMICROSOFT CORPORATION2026 second_quarter$2.7M2nd Quarter - Report
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONMICROSOFT CORPORATION2025 second_quarter$2.6M2nd Quarter - Report
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONMICROSOFT CORPORATION2025 fourth_quarter$2.4M4th Quarter - Report
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONMICROSOFT CORPORATION2026 first_quarter$2.4M1st Quarter - Report
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONMICROSOFT CORPORATION2025 third_quarter$2M3rd Quarter - Report
EARTHJUSTICE ACTIONEARTHJUSTICE ACTION2026 second_quarter$188.3K2nd Quarter - Amendme…
EARTHJUSTICE ACTIONEARTHJUSTICE ACTION2026 second_quarter$188.3K2nd Quarter - Report
EARTHJUSTICE ACTIONEARTHJUSTICE ACTION2026 first_quarter$111.7K1st Quarter - Report
PC LANDING CORP.WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP2026 first_quarter$90K1st Quarter - Report
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICANEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA2026 second_quarter$85K2nd Quarter - Report
NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICANEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA2026 first_quarter$85K1st Quarter - Report
PC LANDING CORP.WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP2025 fourth_quarter$30K4th Quarter - Report
PC LANDING CORP.WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON US LLP2025 third_quarter$20K3rd Quarter - Report
CLOUDFACTORS LLCCLOUDFACTORS LLC2026 second_quarter—2nd Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 261 under Public Lands and Natural Resources, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 2 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 261’s is Public Lands and Natural Resources.

hr261/policy-areas.txt
Public Lands and Natural ResourcesAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 261 carries 2 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies to Marine and coastal resources, fisheries.

hr261/subjects.txt
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesMarine and coastal resources, fisheries

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 261, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. CARTER of Georgia:H.R. 261.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Congress is granted the authority to introduce and enactthis legislation pursuant to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S.Constitution[Page H92]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com